In this first part of working on a Mugo pine collected as yamadori, Mario explains the biggest challenges involved in styling this species. He talks about the general characteristics of Mugo pine as yamadori material, what makes it demanding, and what should be taken into account when planning its future design. A key topic of this episode is the life line — how it runs in Mugo pine, how to read it correctly, and why understanding it is crucial for safe and long-term development of the tree.